Grape-picking knife



D. c. 'DUNHAM GRAPE PICKING KNIFE Filed Jan. 16, 1924 K Miu INVENTo'R ATTORNEY ian. 13, 1925.

CII

Patented dan. 13, i925.

UNITE DEWITT C. DUNHAM, OF MARYSVILLE, CALIFORNIA.

Application filed January 16, 1924.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, Dnwrr'r C. DUNHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Marysville, in the county of Yuba and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Grape-Picking Knives, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is the production of a hand operated knife for severing bunches of grapes from vines in vineyards so that this operation can be quickly and easily performed and a greater vamount of grapes can be picked than by the ordinary means.

Vith the foregoing 'and other objects in view, which will present themselves as the nature of the invention is better understood, reference will be had to the drawing` which accompanies and which forms part of this application. 1

In the drawing Figure l isa perspective view showing the impro-vement in operative position upon the hand of a grape picker.

Figure 2 is an approximately central longitudinal sectional view through the clamp element of the improvement looking toward the knife.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of the hand engaging portion of the device.

As disclosed by the drawing, my improvement comprises a hand clamp which is preferably formed from a single sheet of metal to include an approximately straight body portion 1 whose ends are rounded toward each other, as indicated by the numerals 2 and 3. The edges of the body, and if necessary, those of the ends are flared outwardly or beaded, as at 4, so that the clamp will not inflict injury to the hand of the operator.

By reference to the drawing, it will be seen that the rounded end 2 is extended from only one edge of the body 1 and also that the body from the end 3 is widened to the,

said end 2. The portion above the rounded clamp provided by the end 2 is bent upon itself to provide a cross sectionally U-shaped extension 5, and in this U-shaped extension there is pivoted, as at 6, one end of a blade 7. The blade is, of course, limited in its movement in one direction by contact with the connecting wall of the U-shaped exten- Serial No. 686,60?.

sion 5. The blade preferably has its cutting edge, adjacent to its outer end, arched inwardly, as at 8, and the said blade has scoured thereon a finger ring 9 extended inwardly and laterally thereof.

There is preferably riveted or otherwise secured to the metal hand clamp a leather strap or band l0. One end of the strap is provided with a buckle, and the opposite end is apertured to receive the tongue of the buckle therethrough whereby the strap may be adjustably secured on the hand of the operator. In order to prevent the ends of the strap contacting with the hand ofthe operator, there is secured on the inner face, adjacent to one end of the said strap, a fabric flap l1.

In operation, the clamp is strapped varound the hand of the user, the body 1 of the clamp being arranged over the back of the hand, and the rounded ends 2 and are arranged over the back of the users hand. The clamp materially assists the strap in sustaining the device in proper adjusted positions on the hand of the operator.

The index finger of the user is slipped through the ring 9, and by moving this finger toward his thumb, which is in contact with the stem of a bunch of grapes, the said stem may be readily severed from the vine. With my improvement, I have found from practice that a far greater amo-unt of grapes can be harvested than with any other device with which I am acquainted, and it is thought that the forcgoing description, when taken in connection with the drawing, will fully set forth the simplicity and advantages of the improvement.

Having claim Y In a grape stem cutter. a clamp formed of metal to provide a body whose ends are rounded toward each other, and the edges of the body being iared outwardly, said body having one of its ends of a greater width than the other andrbent upon itself, from its referred to rounded portion, to provide an extension which is U-shaped in cross section, a blade pivoted therein, and an inwardly disposed laterally extending finger receiving ring fixed on the blade.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

DEWITT C. DUNHAM.

described the invention, I 

